Calvin College is
one of the top schools in the country in its classification for students
studying abroad. That number is apt to go up after a recent decision to
add two more off-campus study programs to the Calvin curriculum.

Beginning this school
year, Calvin students will be able to travel to 10 destinations for semester-long
study programs, including the two most recentGhana and a second
program in Honduras. Both were approved this spring.

Ghana and the second
Honduras program join a semester-long program in France, which was also
recently approved, and existing overseas programs in Britain, China, Honduras,
Hungary and Spain. Calvin also has semester-long U.S. programs in New
Mexico and Washington, D.C.

Said Calvin's Frank
Roberts, director of off-campus
programs: "Off-Campus programs have an unusually deep and long-lasting
effect on Calvin students. They provide experiences which generally cannot
be duplicated on campus. They broaden students' perspectives on world
affairs and on the kingdom of God. They are an important, and growing,
part of a Calvin education."

The program in Ghana
grows out of Calvin's commitment to establish a semester-long study program
in Africa. Calvin students will study at the University of Ghana where
they will share dormitory rooms with Ghanian students. In addition most
of the courses will be taught by professors from the university. The director
of the program at the outset will be Randal Jelks of Calvin's History
Department. He will teach one course and coordinate one course. Several
other professors at Calvin with experience in Africa have also indicated
an interest in leading the group in future years. Students will study
African history, religions of West Africa and African Literature and Drama.
All students must also take a course in the local tribal language called
Twi (pronounced Tri).

One of the reasons
for a second program in Honduras is the high demand for Calvin's existing
Semester in Spain program (the Honduras program will be a Spanish-language
semester). Calvin also wanted to provide its Spanish majors with the option
of a semester-long program in Latin America, especially because many people
in the United States who speak Spanish hail from Latin America. The director
at the outset will be Marilyn Bierling of Calvin's Spanish Department.
She will teach two courses. In addition, several Honduran teachers will
provide several courses. Finally, Kurt VerBeek, the director of Calvin's
other Honduras program (a Third World Development semester), will also
do an orientation class at the beginning of the semester and will teach
a culture class during the semester. Calvin students will stay with Honduran
families during the semester-long program.

A recent report by
Calvin director of institutional and enrollment research Tom VanEck showed
that more and more Calvin students are taking advantage of the chance
to study abroad in Calvin sponsored programs. Almost 50 percent of Calvin's
Class of 2000 studied abroad at some point during their Calvin career.
For about two-thirds of those students their study abroad came during
Calvin's three-week Interim. About one-third of the students who study
abroad do so for an entire semester.

Study abroad is becoming
an important goal for colleges and universities across the country and
extends to small, private colleges such as Kalamazoo College as well as
big, state schools such as Michigan State University.